km 0 · 1,080 m
Cable car, top station 金坑索道上站
¥55 one way · last ride up 17:30
15–25 min up from Dazhai. The cabins don’t stop: step in and out as they pass.
5 min0.2 km
Back
Free route guide · Guilin
Longji Rice Terraces: Dazhai to Ping’an
16 km over the rice terraces, from Dazhai to Ping’an.
Starts at Dazhai, 2½ h by direct bus from Guilin , ends at Ping’anHow to get there
StatusOpen· Checked 9 Oct 2026
Jinkeng terraces, Longji, Guangxi
The trail in ten numbers
- 2days1 night in Tiantou. 3 days with a night in Ping’anOn the trail
- 16.4kmCable car top to Ping’an car park: 6 km on day 1, 10.4 km on day 2One way
- +580mDown 950 m. The cable car takes the biggest climbClimb in total
- 1,170mThe ridge between Tiantou and Zhongliu. Too low for altitude sicknessHighest point
- 6–7½hDay 1: 2½–3 h, day 2: 3½–4½ h, stops includedWalking in total
- €60–210Per person, 2 days by bus, all inPer person, all in
- €11 + 7Ticket + cable car up. One-way tickets: window onlyTicket + cable car
- 3½–4hTiantou to Nine Dragons Five Tigers. Carry 1.5 L eachTo the next shop
- Sep–OctGolden from late September to the harvest (1 Nov 2026). Flooded mirrors mid-April to early JuneBest months
- 0guides neededFew signs at the forks: follow our mapUse our map
Walk it before you go
Drag along the line, or tap a stop.
km 0.2 · 1,070 m
Golden Buddha Peak (Viewpoint 3) 金佛顶（3 号观景台）
Snack stalls and coffee at the top: lunch here before the walk down.
1–1½ h2.5 km+190−270
km 0.8 · 950 m
Fork: sharp left
Sharp left, down to Dazhai; a toilet is just below. Straight on is a rough short cut to Tiantou.
km 1.6 · 810 m
Dazhai village 大寨村
In the village turn right onto the stone path, then right again, up the steps.
km 2.8 · 1,000 m
Thousand Layers to Heaven (Viewpoint 2) 千层天梯（2 号观景台）
Photo stands ¥10
The best place for the evening lights, about 20 min after sunset. Tiantou is 15 min on.
¾–1 h1.9 km+130
km 4.7 · 1,130 m
Xishan Shaole (Viewpoint 1) 西山韶乐（1 号观景台）
Photo stands ¥20
Sunrise in the morning, the best photos in the afternoon. The top deck is 5 min higher.
20–30 min1.4 km−140
km 6 · 990 m
Tiantou 田头寨
Night 1, between Viewpoints 1 and 2. Book dinner early: most kitchens close at 20:00.
1½–2 h4.6 km+180−170
km 6.6 · 1,050 m
Fork: left on the path
Where the lane bends right to Viewpoint 1, keep left up the path to Ping’an. 250 m on, turn right up to the ridge.
km 9.8 · 1,050 m
New road: right
The path meets a new road. Turn right, downhill, into Zhongliu. Left runs 8 km round to Jinkeng.
km 10.6 · 1,000 m
Zhongliu village 中六村（路牌：中禄村）
Halfway; signs say Zhonglu. Leave the road on the left, down the steps by the parked cars.
1¼–1½ h3.8 km+60−130
km 12.2 · 1,060 m
Road again: left
Turn left, downhill, with the signs for Nine Dragons Five Tigers and Ping’an. Right goes to Gourd Mountain.
km 13.7 · 970 m · Position approximate
Ticket check 临时售票点
Past a roadside toilet and a small reservoir, a booth checks the tickets of walkers from Dazhai.
km 14.5 · 930 m
Nine Dragons Five Tigers 九龙五虎（平安 1 号观景台）
A viewpoint with lunch and coffee. Where the road ends, take the steps down, not the road.
30 min1.4 km−170
km 15.8 · 760 m
Ping’an 平安寨（路牌：平安壮寨）
From the covered bridge: east to the car park, west to the Ancient Zhuang Village.
10–15 min0.6 km−50
km 16.4 · 710 m
Ping’an car park 平安停车场（平安游客中心）
No bus to Guilin from here: the bus back passes Erlong Bridge, 5.6 km down the road.
km 01,083 m
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Heights and relief: SRTM terrain data, checked against walks recorded on 2bulu.
Side trips
Short walks off the main line, at both ends. Pick one:
Walk up instead of the cable car
Cable car, bottom station · 40 min–1¼ h · 2.1 km · ▲300 m · 1,080 m
When the cable car stops for wind or rain, or the queue is long: stone steps up to Golden Buddha Peak.
Sunrise at Viewpoint 1
Tiantou · 1–1½ h · 3.3 km there and back · ▲180 m · 1,160 m
Up the lane from Tiantou by headlamp to Xishan Shaole, which faces east. Leave 50 min before the sun clears the hills: about 06:00 in mid-October.
Evening lights at Viewpoint 2
Tiantou · 20–30 min · 1.6 km there and back · 1,000 m
Thousands of small solar lamps along the terraces come on about 20 min after sunset. Lit every evening from August to October 2026; other months, ask your guesthouse.
km 0 · 990 m
Tiantou 田头寨
10–15 min0.8 km
km 0.5 · 1,000 m
Lookout 七星逐月观景点
km 0.8 · 1,000 m
Thousand Layers to Heaven (Viewpoint 2) 千层天梯（2 号观景台）
Lights on about 18:40 in early October. Come by sunset for a place.
km 0986 m
Via Seven Stars with the Moon
Nine Dragons Five Tigers · 1 h · 2.4 km · ▲50 m · 930 m
Ping’an’s other viewpoint, on a level stone path from Nine Dragons Five Tigers. It adds 1 km and half an hour.
km 0 · 930 m
Nine Dragons Five Tigers 九龙五虎（平安 1 号观景台）
30 min1.5 km+50−70
km 1.5 · 910 m
Seven Stars with the Moon 七星伴月（平安 2 号观景台）
Four levels of decks, a shop and a toilet.
30 min0.9 km−150
km 2.4 · 760 m
Ping’an 平安寨
km 0925 m
Ping’an’s two viewpoints
Ping’an · 1½–2 h · 3.8 km · ▲250 m · 930 m
A loop up from Ping’an to Seven Stars with the Moon and Nine Dragons Five Tigers, for a night in Ping’an. Sunrise at Seven Stars: about 06:50 in mid-October.
Or ride the shuttle from the car park up to Nine Dragons Five Tigers (¥25–30) and walk down by Seven Stars: 3 km, about 1¼ h.
Longji Ancient Zhuang Village
Ping’an · 1½–2 h · 5.7 km there and back · ▲110 m · 850 m
Village paths from Ping’an through bamboo and terraces to a Zhuang village of century-old wooden houses. No bus there: walk back the same way.
km 0 · 760 m
Ping’an 平安寨
Follow the signs for 古壮寨 (Ancient Zhuang Village); coming back, 平安寨.
50 min2.9 km+110−120
km 1.1 · 820 m
Fork: down
Up: Seven Stars with the Moon. Down: the Ancient Zhuang Village.
km 1.3 · 810 m
Toilet and footbridge
km 2.1 · 850 m
The First Terrace 始祖田
km 2.9 · 750 m
Ancient Zhuang Village 龙脊古壮寨（龙脊村）
Old wooden houses open to visit for free, a folk museum and a huge osmanthus tree.
km 0757 m
Down the road to Erlong Bridge
Ping’an car park · 1¼–1½ h · 5.6 km · 710 m
If no car comes: 5.6 km down the county road to the junction where the bus back to Guilin stops. No pavement and many bends: the last resort.
Pick your pace
2 days
- Day 1
- Direct bus from Guilin Station (¥50). Book the 16:00 back too.
- Cable car up, one way (¥55). Queue at once.
- Golden Buddha Peak: lunch at the stalls.
- Down through Dazhai, up to Viewpoint 2.
- Viewpoint 1, at its best in the afternoon light.
- Tiantou. Book dinner, tomorrow’s lunch and a car from Ping’an.
- Headlamp on, 15 min to Viewpoint 2: the lights come on about 18:40.
- Sleep at Tiantou
1 day
3 days
- Day 1
- Direct bus from Guilin (¥50).
- Cable car up (¥55).
- Golden Buddha Peak, lunch.
- Viewpoint 2.
- Viewpoint 1 in the afternoon light.
- Night in Tiantou; the lights at Viewpoint 2 after dark.
- Sleep at Tiantou
Getting there and away
Pick a way to see every step.
To Dazhai
From Beijing or Shanghai: fly to Guilin (about 3 h), or take the fast train to Guilin, Guilin North or Guilin West. Then pick your city:
Starting from
Direct bus from Guilin StationBusBest
2½ h¥50
One bus to the Dazhai car park, by the cable car. Book a seat a day or more ahead.
Without a booked seat you may find no place, or no bus.
Ask your Guilin hotel to book it 1–3 days ahead, with the way back. The bus company sells only on WeChat; hotels may add ¥5–10.
Show or play this
您好，我想订明天早上8点从桂林站到金坑大寨的直通车，2个人。我们是外国游客，请帮我订票。
In English Hello, I’d like to book tomorrow’s 08:00 direct bus from Guilin Station to Jinkeng Dazhai, 2 people. We’re foreign visitors; please book it for us.
Around 20:00 the evening before, a text gives the number plate, the meeting point and the driver’s phone. Nothing by 22:00? Ask your hotel to check.
The bus leaves from the hotel’s car park: 10–15 min on foot from the Guilin Station exit, across one set of lights.
Show or play this
请送我去锦江都城酒店（两江四湖象山景区店），环城西一路141号。
In English Please take me to the Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel (Two Rivers and Four Lakes, Elephant Hill branch), 141 Huanchengxi 1st Road.
Be there 15 min early: the bus waits about 5 min at most.
Cases up to 26 inches go in the hold.
After about 2 h the bus stops at the Longji ticket office: buy the ¥80 ticket with your passport, or show the one you bought online. Staff check on board.
Show or play this
一张成人门票，我用护照。
In English One adult ticket, please. I’ll use my passport.
Get off at the end, the Dazhai car park by the cable car, about 10:30. In Golden Week it stops 0.8 km lower, with a free shuttle up.
Direct bus from Guilin North or WestBusBest
2¾ h¥65
A shuttle takes you to the edge of town to join the same direct bus. Off a morning train, allow 20 min to reach it.
Book as from Guilin Station, through your hotel. The shuttle to the main bus is included.
Show or play this
您好，我想订明天早上从桂林北站到金坑大寨的直通车，2个人。
In English Hello, I’d like to book tomorrow morning’s direct bus from Guilin North Station to Jinkeng Dazhai, 2 people.
Guilin North: out of the station, turn right to No. 1 coach park, 5 min. Guilin West: the coach park in front of the station, 5 min.
Show or play this
请问1号大巴停车场在哪里？我坐去龙脊梯田的直通车。
In English Where is No. 1 coach park, please? I’m taking the direct bus to the Longji terraces.
The text message gives the time: from North about 10 min earlier than from Guilin Station.
Change to the direct bus on the edge of town; then as from Guilin Station: ticket office, Dazhai about 10:30.
Airport bus, then the direct busBusFine
45 min + 2½ h¥20 + ¥50
The airport bus stops at the Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel, where the direct bus leaves. An early flight misses the 08:00 bus but makes a later one (in the busy months 09:30, 10:55, 12:00…).
Terminal 2 arrivals, beside door 6: airport bus line 1, ¥20, about every 30 min in the daytime.
Show or play this
一张机场大巴到锦江都城酒店（桂林站）的票。
In English One airport-bus ticket to the Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel (Guilin Station), please.
40–45 min to Guilin Station; get off at the Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel.
Wait in its car park for the direct bus you booked; then as from Guilin Station.
Private car or DiDi from GuilinCarFine
2–2½ h¥400–650 a car
From your door to the Dazhai car park. Worth it for 3–6 people, or to leave later.
Ask your hotel the day before. Agree the total, the tolls and which car park before you go.
Show or play this
请帮我订明天早上去龙脊金坑大寨停车场的车。一共多少钱？含过路费吗？
In English Please book me a car tomorrow morning to the Jinkeng Dazhai car park at Longji. How much in total? Are tolls included?
Or DiDi, in English with a foreign card: about ¥250 plus ¥53 tolls. Paste the name above; “龙脊梯田” alone ends at the ticket office.
Show or play this
金坑大寨停车场
In English Jinkeng Dazhai car park: type or paste it as your destination
At the ticket office everyone buys the ¥80 ticket; cars under 9 seats drive on to the village car park.
Direct bus from YangshuoBusBest
≈ 4 h¥90
08:00 all year from near Yangshuo Park’s west gate; it picks up in Guilin and reaches Dazhai about 12:00.
The first train from Yangshuo to Guilin leaves at 08:34: too late for the 08:00 bus from Guilin.
Book through your Yangshuo hotel, 1–3 days ahead.
Show or play this
您好，我想订明天早上8点从阳朔到金坑大寨的直通车，2个人。
In English Hello, I’d like to book tomorrow’s 08:00 direct bus from Yangshuo to Jinkeng Dazhai, 2 people.
Meet near the west gate of Yangshuo Park, 20 min on foot from West Street. In busy weeks the place changes: check the text message.
Via Guilin, about 4 h to Dazhai; the ticket office stop as from Guilin.
Private car from YangshuoCarFine
≈ 3 h¥650–900 a car
From your hotel to the Dazhai car park, leaving when you like.
Ask your hotel the day before and agree the total price.
Show or play this
请帮我订明天早上去龙脊金坑大寨停车场的车。一共多少钱？含过路费吗？
In English Please book me a car tomorrow morning to the Jinkeng Dazhai car park at Longji. How much in total? Are tolls included?
Everyone buys the ¥80 ticket at the ticket office on the way.
Regular bus via the scenic-area gateBusCareful
3–4 h≈ ¥25 + ¥20
Cheap but slow, with a change; drivers stop for passengers along the road.
Qintan bus station (琴潭汽车站, 31 Cuizhu Road): the regular bus to Longsheng, 06:10–17:50 (the express doesn’t stop at the gate).
Show or play this
我要一张去龙胜的普通班车票，在龙脊景区大门（和平）下车。
In English One ticket on the regular (stopping) bus to Longsheng, please. I’m getting off at the Longji scenic-area gate (Heping).
Buy the ¥80 ticket at the gate.
At the visitor centre take the scenic-area bus to Dazhai, ¥20, about hourly from 07:05 to 17:25.
Show or play this
这趟车到金坑大寨停车场吗？
In English Does this bus go to the Jinkeng Dazhai car park?
From Ping’an
No bus to Guilin leaves the Ping’an car park. Get down to Erlong Bridge, a junction 5.6 km below: the direct bus from Dazhai passes about 16:20 (14:20 from the harvest to March). Then pick where you’re going:
Going to
Down to Erlong Bridge, then the direct busBusBest
15 min + 2½ h¥15–100 + ¥50
Book the 16:00 back from Dazhai, boarding at Erlong Bridge (same fare). The evening before, ask your guesthouse for a car from the Ping’an car park at about 15:00.
Erlong Bridge has no shelter and no timetable. The 16:00 runs until the harvest (about 1 Nov 2026), then 14:00. Missed it? See “Missed the bus”.
When you book the bus out, book the way back too and say where you get on.
Show or play this
回程：坐下午4点从金坑大寨回桂林站的直通车，在二龙桥（平安寨路口）上车，2个人。
In English Return trip: the 16:00 bus from Jinkeng Dazhai back to Guilin Station, boarding at Erlong Bridge (the Ping’an junction). 2 people.
The evening before, ask your guesthouse in Tiantou or Ping’an. Agree the price first: short rides like this run about ¥50–100 a car.
Show or play this
明天下午3点，请帮我安排车从平安停车场送到二龙桥路口，我要赶下午4点从金坑发车回桂林的直通车。多少钱？
In English Tomorrow at 3 pm, could you arrange a car from the Ping’an car park to the Erlong Bridge junction? I need to catch the 16:00 direct bus (from Jinkeng) back to Guilin. How much is it?
Walk down through Ping’an to the car park and ticket gate, 10–20 min; be there by 15:00.
No car? At the gate, ask for the minibus down (¥15, about every two hours; you may board outside the gate).
Show or play this
师傅，这车到二龙桥吗？我在二龙桥下车。
In English Driver, does this go to Erlong Bridge? I’m getting off there.
Be on the main road at Erlong Bridge by 16:00. The bus usually comes about 16:20; the driver calls first.
Wave the bus down and show your booking.
Show or play this
我订了下午4点回桂林站的直通车，在二龙桥上车。
In English I’ve booked the 16:00 direct bus to Guilin Station, boarding at Erlong Bridge.
Guilin Station (the Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel) about 18:40. For North or West, change to the company’s free shuttle on the West Ring Road.
Private car from Ping’anCarFine
≈ 2 h¥400–450 a car
Leave when you like, from the Ping’an car park, to Guilin or the airport. Book a day ahead: DiDi is hit and miss up here.
Ask your guesthouse the day before (say the airport instead if you fly).
Show or play this
请帮我订明天下午4点从平安停车场回桂林站的车，一共多少钱，含过路费吗？
In English Please book me a car tomorrow at 4 pm from the Ping’an car park to Guilin Station. How much in total, and are tolls included?
Save the driver’s number and photograph the number plate.
Pay at the end: cash, WeChat Pay or Alipay.
Direct bus, then the airport busBusFine
2½ h + 50 min¥50 + ¥20
The 16:00 bus reaches Guilin Station about 18:40. From there the airport bus takes 50 min, hourly in the evening: fine for flights after about 21:30.
As for Guilin: down to Erlong Bridge, then the 16:00 direct bus to Guilin Station.
10 min on foot to the airport bus desk on the station square, by the taxi exit.
Show or play this
一张去两江机场的机场大巴票。
In English One airport-bus ticket to Liangjiang Airport, please.
Direct bus to YangshuoBusFine
≈ 4 h¥90
In the busy months it passes Erlong Bridge about 14:50 (14:20 in winter). Leave Tiantou by 07:30.
Book it with the bus out, through your hotel.
Show or play this
回程：坐下午2点半从金坑大寨回阳朔的直通车，在二龙桥（平安寨路口）上车，2个人。
In English Return trip: the 14:30 bus from Jinkeng Dazhai to Yangshuo, boarding at Erlong Bridge (the Ping’an junction). 2 people.
Be at Erlong Bridge by 14:30; then as for Guilin (car or minibus down from Ping’an).
Private car to YangshuoCarFine
≈ 3 hfrom ¥650 a car
From the Ping’an car park whenever you like. Book through your guesthouse a day ahead.
Ask your guesthouse the day before and agree the total.
Show or play this
请帮我订明天下午从平安停车场去阳朔西街的车，一共多少钱，含过路费吗？
In English Please book me a car tomorrow afternoon from the Ping’an car park to West Street in Yangshuo. How much in total, and are tolls included?
Missed the busBusCareful
3½–4½ h≈ ¥20 + ¥40
Scenic-area buses run on past Erlong Bridge to the expressway junction and Longsheng bus station, where buses leave for Guilin.
Wait at Erlong Bridge for the scenic-area bus to Longsheng. It passes about 17:10 and 18:00, the last one; in winter it may be earlier: call 150 7735 8179.
Show or play this
我要回桂林，请在高速路口叫我下车。
In English I’m going back to Guilin. Please tell me when we reach the expressway junction.
At Longsheng bus station buy a ticket to Guilin with your passport.
Show or play this
我要一张去桂林的车票，最近一班几点？
In English One ticket to Guilin, please. When is the next bus?
Too late for that? Stay a night in Ping’an, or ask a guesthouse to find a car (¥400–450, hard at short notice).
Your big bag
- Leave it in GuilinFree–¥10 a day
Hotels usually keep bags for free; left luggage by the stations is about ¥10 a day. Carry a small pack.
- Guesthouse pick-upFree
Many Tiantou guesthouses meet the bus at the Dazhai car park and take your bag up while you ride the cable car. Some send it on to Ping’an the next day: ask the price.
- Porters¥30–50
Basket porters at the car park carry a bag up to Tiantou. Agree the price first.
Where to sleep
Yuan a night, for one bed or a whole room (Tue 27 Oct 2026, golden season, 2 people, Trip.com with taxes), checked 9 Oct 2026.
Yuelai Courtyard Hotel 悦莱庭院酒店
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥278–348
- 9.5 · 329 reviews
Family-run, in the middle of Tiantou. The son speaks English; guests have had their bags sent on to Ping’an.
Suyin Stilt House 素隐·乡宿吊脚楼观景美宿
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥306–492
- 9.5 · 118 reviews
A wooden stilt house on the path through Tiantou, with a top-floor restaurant over the terraces.
Ink and Longji Homestay 水墨·龙脊民宿
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥323–539
- 9.4 · 145 reviews
Sunrise from bed. The owner meets you at the Dazhai car park and books buses to Guilin.
Daosui Homestay 稻穗民宿
- Bed
- —
- Room
- ¥223
- View room
- ¥242–389
- 9.3 · 64 reviews
The cheapest well-rated rooms in central Tiantou: 10 min to Viewpoint 2, 20 to Viewpoint 1.
Huakaixiaoyuan Homestay 花开小苑民宿
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥300–416
- 8.9 · 139 reviews
Between Viewpoints 1 and 2, 10–15 min to each. Free rides to and from the Dazhai car park.
Yunxi Shang Pool Homestay 云希尚·TerraPool 泳池度假酒店
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥380–565
- 9.6 · 347 reviews
The Tiantou guesthouse closest to Viewpoint 2 and its lights (about 10 min), with an outdoor pool.
Rice View Villa 垄忆轩民宿
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥282
- 10 · 6 reviews
A small wooden house in the middle of Tiantou, with a pool; long liked by foreign guests on Booking.com.
Jinkeng Homestay 龙脊梯田金坑酒店
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥294
- 9.3 · 51 reviews
A family inn since 2003, by the Tiantou car park. Guests praise the cooking and the free rides down to Dazhai.
Longji Bieyuan 龙脊别院
- Bed
- —
- Room
- ¥157
- View room
- ¥216–356
- 9.1 · 52 reviews
The cheapest room near Viewpoint 1, up steep steps. Basic (some squat toilets), but they carry your bags.
Yunshang Chenxi 云上·晨曦
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥534–739
- 9.9 · 375 reviews
3 min below Viewpoint 1: sunrise from the balcony. The owner drives guests to Viewpoint 2 for the lights.
HOTEL MORO 陌野·晨晞
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥808–908
- 9.6 · 477 reviews
Between Viewpoints 1 and 2, with a lift: sunrise from the terrace, the lit terraces below at night.
Xia Tiruijing Homestay 霞梯瑞景民宿
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥601–666
- 9.7 · 458 reviews
Right under Viewpoint 1, with a lift and a pool. Viewpoint 2 is 20 min downhill.
West Window Moon Homestay 龙脊西窗月民宿
- Bed
- —
- Room
- ¥303–326
- View room
- ¥543
- 9.7 · 241 reviews
On the trail just below Nine Dragons Five Tigers: the last bed before Ping’an village.
Far and Near B&B 远近之间民宿
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥287–441
- 9.9 · 160 reviews
At the top of Ping’an, 10 min below Seven Stars with the Moon. They carry bags up the 300 steps.
Country View Hotel 龙脊梯田乡景民宿
- Bed
- —
- Room
- ¥164
- View room
- ¥215
- 9.8 · 349 reviews
Best value in Ping’an. The owners book your bus back to Guilin; Chinese and Western dishes.
Hometown Inn 龙胜家乡楼客栈
- Bed
- —
- Room
- ¥144
- View room
- —
- 9.6 · 45 reviews
Simple rooms in the old village. Walkers from Dazhai got a fair-priced ride to Guilin through the owner.
Baike Boutique Hotel 佰客精品酒店
- Bed
- —
- Room
- ¥604
- View room
- ¥864–1,364
- 9.7 · 108 reviews
Closest to the Ping’an car park (5–10 min). Jason speaks English and arranges cars.
Wangjing Zhijia 望景之家民宿
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥395–463
- 9.8 · 83 reviews
On the Seven Stars with the Moon viewpoint. A 2026 guest had her bags sent here while she walked over.
Yunyi View Hotel 云逸观景酒店
- Bed
- —
- Room
- ¥169–190
- View room
- ¥199–229
- 9.6 · 211 reviews
Best value in Dazhai village, about 1 km from the cable car. The family picks you up and books your bus.
818 Resort Hotel 818度假酒店
- Bed
- —
- Room
- ¥238–258
- View room
- ¥290–368
- 9.7 · 99 reviews
A quiet corner of Dazhai village, 10 min from the car park. Ask for the 4th floor.
Zhenyue Panoramic Homestay 枕月智能全景民宿
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥298–338
- 9.9 · 177 reviews
The closest of these to the cable car, about 10 min on foot. Free pick-up and drop-off.
ANNLAND 栖安·壹号山水酒店
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥591–1,907
- 9.8 · 620 reviews
Opened 2024, facing Viewpoints 1 and 2, with a lift and English-speaking staff. 20 min to the cable car.
Qingshan No. 1 Courtyard 青山一号龙脊院子
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥730–1,680
- 9.8 · 788 reviews
The most-reviewed place in Jinkeng: dinner on the roof as the terraces light up. Much cheaper after the harvest.
Yilan Shanhe Hotel 一览山禾酒店（千层天梯店）
- Bed
- —
- Room
- ¥164
- View room
- ¥261–262
- 9.5 · 308 reviews
Budget rooms by Viewpoint 2, with the lights from the window. The owner speaks some English.
Longjingyuan Inn 龙景苑客栈
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥468–599
- 9.6 · 574 reviews
Just below Golden Buddha Peak, on the way down. They fetch your bags from the Dazhai car park.
Lanxing Yuyue Panorama Hotel 揽星觅月全景酒店
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥452–887
- 9.9 · 532 reviews
Near the top, with a lift. Their free ride up from the car park saves the cable car fare.
Muyi Panorama Homestay 沐益全景民宿
- Bed
- —
- Room
- —
- View room
- ¥522–678
- 9.8 · 196 reviews
A big new place (2025, lift) a few minutes from the top cable car station. Rides to and from the car park included.
What it costs
€1 = ¥7.613 (ECB, 30 Sep 2026)
- Getting there
- Ticket
- Cable car up
- Big bag
- 1 night in Tiantou
- Food, water, snacks
- Getting away
Per person, 2 days
¥560–930
≈ €75–120
Good to know
- Alipay or WeChat Pay
Most guesthouses and restaurants take them with a foreign card; some stalls and porters don’t. Link your card before you arrive.
- 4G in the villages
Patchy between them and on the ridge. Get an eSIM with data and an offline map (Organic Maps), and keep this guide’s PDF: Google Maps doesn’t work in China.
Don’t step into the paddies or onto the field edges for a photo: they are farmers’ fields, and some charge ¥5.
Don’t follow people in traffic vests who say you must take a car or a guide: many work for guesthouses. Walking is free.
Ask the price before a photo with Red Yao women in costume (usually ¥10–20). The photo taken of you on the cable car is yours to refuse.
When to go
Longsheng town, 268 m (30-year averages, 1991–2020); temperatures lowered to about 1,000 m, the height of Tiantou and the viewpoints
- Best
- Good
- Rain
- Holiday crowds
- SpringMar–MayBest
You’ll see
- Flooded terraces like mirrors, mid-April to early June
- Pear and plum blossom in March
Watch for
- 17–18 rain days a month; heavy rain closed the Jinkeng viewpoints on 20 Apr 2026
- Afternoon thunderstorms: get off the ridge
- SummerJun–AugRainy season
You’ll see
- Rice planted in mid-June; green terraces through July
- Seas of cloud after rain, most in July and August
Watch for
- June is the wettest month, about 290 mm
- Landslides after heavy rain: keep a spare day
- 27–28 °C and humid at midday, no shade on the terraces
- AutumnSep–NovBest
You’ll see
- Gold from late September, fullest around 8–25 Oct; harvest on 1 Nov 2026
- The driest, clearest months: about 9 rain days
- The new terrace lights, every evening August to October 2026
Watch for
- 1–7 Oct: Golden Week, hours of traffic on the road in
- After the harvest, stubble until the fields are flooded again
- WinterDec–FebCold and clear
You’ll see
- Mirrors again: Viewpoint 1, Nine Dragons Five Tigers, the Ancient Zhuang Village
- Few people, and rooms a third cheaper
- Snow some years (Feb 2022, Jan 2024)
Watch for
- Nights 2–4 °C, below 0 °C in cold snaps; ask if your room has heating
- Dark by about 18:30; the bus back leaves Dazhai at 14:00
Quick answers
How do I get there and back?
A direct bus leaves Guilin Station at 08:00 for Dazhai: ¥50, 2½ h. Back, it passes Erlong Bridge, below Ping’an, about 16:20 (14:20 from the harvest to March); your guesthouse can drive you down, or take the ¥15 minibus. Your hotel books the bus: it sells only on WeChat.
Is a day trip from Guilin enough?
For one side only: cable car up at Jinkeng, walk to Viewpoint 2, and the 16:00 bus back. Ping’an is over an hour away by road, so don’t plan both. With two days you walk across and see the lights and the sunrise.
How hard is the walk? Do I need a guide?
Moderate. Day 2, Tiantou to Ping’an, is 10.4 km and 3½–4½ hours on stone paths, field edges and 2 km of road, slippery after rain. No guide needed, but the forks have few signs: use our map. Villagers guide for about ¥100.
Ping’an or Dazhai: where should I stay?
Tiantou (Tiantouzhai on booking sites), between Viewpoints 1 and 2: the lights in the evening, the sunrise in the morning, and day 2 starts at your door. Ping’an is easier and has more guesthouses; Jinkeng is bigger and steeper, with the cable car.
Is winter worth it?
Yes, if you like it quiet: few people, and some rooms a third cheaper. From December to March the flooded fields shine like mirrors; nights are near 0 °C, with ice on the steps some days. The bus back leaves at 14:00: start day 2 by 07:30.
What do I do with my big bag?
Leave it at your Guilin hotel: the walk ends 30 km by road from where it starts. Many Tiantou guesthouses fetch bags from the Dazhai car park for free; porters ask ¥30–50. Some send bags on to Ping’an for a fee.
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Where this comes from
Figures come from GPS traces, trip reports and booking sites, checked on the dates below.
- OpenStreetMap: paths, toilets and banks around Longji; terrain heights SRTM 30 m · 9 Oct 2026
- 2bulu, a Chinese hiking app: recorded walks between Dazhai and Ping’an, times only · 9 Oct 2026
- Xiaohongshu (RedNote): trip notes and bus-stop photos, September–October 2026 · 9 Oct 2026
- Ctrip: 2,100 visitor reviews, July 2025 to October 2026 (Chinese) · 9 Oct 2026
- Longji Scenic Area: 2026 harvest timetable (Chinese) · 10 Sep 2026
- Guilin Longji bus company: September 2026 timetable and fares (Chinese) · 4 Sep 2026
- Guilin Longji bus company: timetable before and after the harvest (Chinese) · 30 Oct 2025
- Trip.com: room prices, late October and mid-November 2026 · 9 Oct 2026
- FlightsFrom: direct flights from Beijing and Shanghai to Guilin · 10 Oct 2026
- China Meteorological Administration via Wikipedia: Longsheng climate · 9 Oct 2026
- Travel China With Me: Longji Rice Terraces · 18 Sep 2026
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